Mike Gamboa of UP being heavily guarded by Chris Exciminiano of FEU. (Ralph Samson/FCF)

RELATED POST: UP-FEU Game Photos

Games Saturday (August 6, 2011)
Araneta Coliseum
1:00 pm – East vs. National
3:00 pm – De La Salle vs. Adamson

GAME SUMMARY

FINAL
(2 – 3)		(4 – 2)
76 – 63
QUARTERS 1 2 3 4 STATE U 12 16 23 25 FAR EASTERN 12 13 17 21
STATISTICAL LEADERS POINTS UP Manuel 20 FEU Garcia 17 REBOUNDS UP Silungan 9 FEU Ramos 10 ASSISTS UP Silungan 7 FEU Tolomia 2
KEY STATS UP FEU FASTBREAK PTS. 14 4 ASSISTS 20 10 REBOUNDS (OFF) 42 (13) 38 (14)

The young and hungry squad that finished dead last in last year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball season just caught a big fish to fry.

University of the Philippines staged a triumphant second half rampage to blow past Far Eastern University in the first of two matches in Thursday’s hoops twinbill at the Araneta Coliseum.

Led by yet another great game from Jet Manuel, who led all scorers with 20 points, the Fighting Maroons hike up their card to a respectable 2-3 entering the home stretch of the first round with tough assignments against University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University.

Coach Ricky Dandan pointed out to his boys in the days leading to the matchup that their squad was doing fairly well in various statistical categories in which they could not capitalize and bring home a win.

“When you lose three straight, you look at the positives. We did. I’m happy that our guys really competed well. We know what it takes to win and we finally did what it takes to win,” said Dandan.

Ending the third period up by just three, a 6-2 start off the break ignited a fire that would not flame out which would eventually extend their lead to nine after the third. By the final frame, that lead would extend to a high of 17 within the two minute warning.

Mike Silungan chipped in 16 points and 7 assists, while transferee guard Gelo Montecastro and Nigerian big man Alinko Mbah each had 14 with the latter grabbing a team-leading 7 boards.

This victory proved to be huge for UP, as they snap a long-standing 12 game losing streak against the Tamaraws and is just the second win over a team with a record over .500 since 2004.

FEU, on the other hand, sorely missed the services of former Smart-Gilas Pilipinas national team member JR Cawaling for this contest after injuring his right knee last Saturday against UST.

RR Garcia picked up the scoring with 17 points. Aldrech Ramos followed with 13 points and picked off 10 rebounds in just the second loss of the season for the Tams.

BOX SCORES
First game
STATE U (76): Manuel 20, Silungan 16, Montecastro 14, Mbah 14, Gamboa 3, Romero 2, Maniego 2, Juruena 2, Gingerich 2, Wong 1, Weirzba 0, Pascual 0, Evangelista 0
FAR EASTERN (63): Garcia 17, Ramos 13, Tolomia 12, Bringas 8, Romeo 6, Escoto 2, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 2, Cruz 1, Sentcheu 0, Pogoy 0, Fabian 0, Foronda 0
Quarters: 12-12, 28-25, 51-42, 76-63